Ex-NFL running back, Cedric Benson and the 4th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft has been reportedly killed in a motorcycle crash in Austin, Texas late Saturday night. He was only 36, TMZ had reported on Sunday.
According to the report by TMZ, Cedric Benson who was a superstar at the University of Texas from 2001 to 2004 was reportedly driving his bike with a passenger when they got into an accident with another vehicle around 10 PM on Saturday night. The passenger who has not yet been identified was also killed in the wreck. Two other adults were injured, as officials are investigating the accident as at the time of this report.
The Police officers investigating the accident, said the motorcycle slammed into a minivan. The people in the van were not injured and stayed on scene to work with investigators. But the minivan caught fire, as Police say speed and poor visibility were factors in the crash. They also said the driver of the minivan will most likely not be charged with a crime.
Hours before the crash, Benson posted a photo of his motorcycle on social media with the caption, “My Saturday evening.”
Cedric Benson was an incredible athlete, who racked up more than 5,500 yards at Texas and won the Doak Walker Award (top running back in the country) his senior year.
He signed a rookie deal with the Bears for 5 years, for $35 million and was a key part of Chicago’s 2006 NFC Championship team.
Benson later played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers before retiring in 2012.
Benson had several off the field problems after his career — he was arrested for drunk driving in 2017 and 2018.